The Gaza Strip: Overview
Following the consolidation of control of Hamas forces throughout the Gaza Strip, relative calm has returned to the streets. People are out in the streets and stores are open. Barring any significant change, UNRWA will restore full operations on Sunday 17 June. The expectation of Gaza residents is that Hamas’ control will increase personal security for civilians.
Between 9 and 13 June, 110 Palestinians were killed and over 550 injured frm inter-factional fighting in Gaza. On14 June, four Palestinians including children were killed in a car and nine others injured in Rafah. Palestinians claim the car was hit by a shell fired from an Israeli tank however, the IDF has denied this.
The major concern among humanitarian agencies is:
- the continuing closure of Gaza’s external borders. There is currently no movement of people or goods in and out of Gaza including patients who require specialist treatment overseas. Shortages of basic essential food supplies including dairy products are likely to occur within days
- the continuation of fuel supplies from Israel that is critical to the provision of power to homes, businesses and hospitals.
The West Bank: Overview
Shootings, arrests and abductions of suspected Hamas activists by Fatah militants have occurred in towns and villages in the West Bank in the last three days. One person was killed from these campaigns. Today, two Palestinians killed by the IDF.
Gaza
Health:
- All Gaza’s hospitals are functioning with the exception of the PRCS Al Quds hospital in the Tal al Hawa district of Gaza city that was closed on 14 June after a nearby building was attacked. Patients were evacuated during the fighting and transferred to other Gaza city hospitals.
- Gaza’s hospitals faced huge demands during this period of fighting. The ICRC estimates that over 500 patients have gun shot wounds and there is a lack of specialized surgeons to treat these injuries. WHO has identified a need for specialist equipment for vascular surgery. UNICEF is in the process of procuring emergency and trauma kits for the MoH and the PRCS in coordination with WHO so as to restore emergency capability.
- The cessation of fighting is now allowing replacement medical staff to arrive at the hospitals. Some medical staff had been working for four consecutive days.
- Concerns exist over the shortage of blood supplies. A call has been made for blood donations by the Ministry of Health (MoH). The ICRC on behalf of the PRCS and the mobile blood bank set up by British NGO, MAP-UK are also coordinating supplies.
- Some consumables that are in short supply in Gaza are present in the MoH warehouse in Ramallah and WHO is working to coordinate their entry to Gaza. Shifa hospital has an urgent need for an auto analyzer for laboratory tests.
- UNICEF is monitoring MoH stocks of vaccines and is currently coordinating with WHO to get replenishment supplies.
- WHO has expressed concern over the continuing closure of Rafah crossing since June 9 and the more recent closure of Erez crossing from 13 June. Approximately 600 critical patients are referred out of Gaza each month to Egypt and Israel and they are currently unable to leave. The specialist services they require are not available in the Gaza Strip.
Food:
- UNRWA continues its regular food distributions and on 14 June 5500 families received rations.
Fuel:
- Fuel supplies reached the main Gaza power station on 14 June following the closure of Nahal Oz pipelines on 12 and 13 June. It is estimated that there are four days stocks available at the power station. If additional fuel is not forthcoming by early next week this will have severe implications for power generation throughout the Gaza Strip.
- Power outages have been reported in parts of Gaza City in the last 48 hours as pylons and cables have been brought down by the fighting and it has not been possible to repair them. This impacts on families ability to access household water as electrical pumps are not functioning.
West Bank
Killings and arrests:
- One Hamas leader from Nablus was detained and killed by Fatah forces near ‘Askar Refugee Camp’ in the city. The IDF killed two men during search and arrest campaigns; one in Tulkarm and the second in Qalqiliya.
- 38 confirmed arrests and detentions of alleged Hamas members by Fatah forces from last night: 16 Ramallah city (by the Al Aqsa Brigade); 14 in Bethlehem; two from Tulkarm, six from Salfit city and villages.
- The IDF arrested ten Palestinians from Qalqiliya city.
- Fatah supporters erected flying checkpoints, one in Jericho and several at all major junctions in Tulkarm. IDF checkpoints remain as usual.
Health:
Health installations run or supported by Zakat committees alleged to be affiliated to Hamas have been targeted by Fatah forces: a hospital Tulkarm city was damaged during shooting; the Medical Scientific Society center in Bediya (Salfit) was attacked and ransacked; the Al Razi hospital in Jenin that was threatened with closure by the Al Aqsa Brigades on the 14 June but remains open following agreement between the hospital manager and the National Security Forces. Those Forces now guard its entrance.
Damage to property and buildings of alleged Hamas activists have been reported including Hamas PLC offices, a village council building, a charitable association building, two school buses in Tulkarm a TV station in Nablus, and a private car in Bethlehem. No associated injuries have been reported.
Document Type: Situation Report
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Casualties, Gaza Strip, Humanitarian relief, Incidents, Security issues
Publication Date: 15/06/2007